My first 2-week in-residence course for my Doctor of Ministry from Austin Theological Presbyterian Seminary will be complete today. This first course has "been more than I can ask or imagine" (Ep 3:20). I'm part of a great cohort of seven students. The five women in the class have shared living the Dorm Life and we've bonded, becoming true friends and companions on the way.
The course material has been challenging, exciting, and manageable.
Between now and April 15th, each of us will complete a project using the tools and guidelines we have studied in this course. I am proposing a project which looks at Harcourt Parish through the lens of hospitality. (I'll share more details when my project has been approved.) Because I'll be doing some interviewing, my proposal must be approved by the seminary's Institutional Review Board. Because my office is on Kenyon's campus, and because I propose to interview some folks who are Kenyon staff or students, I must also get approval from Kenyon's Institutional Review Board.
While researching my topic, I came across the book, "Good Fences: The boundaries of hospitality" by Caroline A. Westerhoff. It captured me! Harcourt Parish is energized around issues of hospitality these days. A few years ago we helped to start the Winter Sanctuary and continue to volunteer. We have created a Parish House Use Committee to focus on the Parish House and how we are and can be hospitable there. And we are just beginning a Home Stay program to host visitors to Kenyon.
I hope to lead a book study this semester on the book Good Fences. If you would like to be part of this study, please let me know.
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